Saturday, 27 October 2012

“Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” - Kahlil Gibran

This morning it looked as Winter had returned once again with gray skies, showers and a chilly edge in the air. Nevertheless, we went out as I had an appointment with my optometrist for an eye examination and then the usual Saturday morning chores and the shopping. In the evening, a cosy dinner in, beautiful music and pleasant conversation…

Here is Edvard Grieg’s “Solveig’s Song” sung by Anna Yuryevna Netrebko (born 18 September 1971). She is a Russian operatic soprano, now holding dual Russian and Austrian citizenship and currently residing in Vienna. She has been nicknamed “La Bellissima” by fans.

Solveig’s Song is sung by Solveig in the fourth act of Edvard Grieg’s “Peer Gynt” Op. 23 was written as incidental music for inclusion in Henrik Ibsen’s play. It premiered along with the play on 24 February 1876 in Christiania (now Oslo). Later, in 1888 and 1891, Grieg extracted eight movements to make two four-movement suites: Suite No. 1, Op. 46, and Suite No. 2, Op. 55.

Solveig’s Song

The winter may pass and the spring disappearThe spring disappearThe summer too will vanish and then the yearAnd then the yearBut this I know for certain: you'll come back againYou'll come back againAnd even as I promised you'll find me waiting thenYou'll find me waiting thenOh-oh-oh...

God help you when wand'ring your way all aloneYour way all aloneGod grant to you his strength as you'll kneel at his throneAs you'll kneel at his throneIf you are in heaven now waiting for meIn heaven for meAnd we shall meet again love and never parted beAnd never parted be!Oh-oh-oh...

Thursday, 25 October 2012

“Know how to garnish food so that it is more appealing to the eye and even more flavourful than before.” - Marilyn vos Savant

An interesting and tasty dish today, which despite its name is rather a mystery in its namesake country of origin. The dish appears on the menu of almost all Chinese-style (mainly Cantonese-style) eateries in Hong Kong, and is also very popular in English, Australian, Canadian and American Chinese cuisine. However, it is not a dish that is generally recognised in Singapore itself!

Method
Place stock in a saucepan and bring to the boil.
Remove from heat. Add the noodles and toss until slightly softened.
Cover and let the noodles soak for 5 mins, stirring occasionally, until softened.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok, or large frying pan, over high heat. Cook chicken, in batches, for 5 mins or until golden. Remove and set aside.
Heat remaining oil in wok. Add onion, cook, stirring, for 2 mins.
Add carrots, snow peas & curry powder. Cook, stirring, for 2 mins.
Return chicken to pan. Add soy sauce, green onions, soaked noodles and any remaining stock, toss to combine.
Cook, stirring, for 2 mins until noodles are coated and stock is absorbed. Stir through cashews and garnish with spring onion.

The Hajj (Arabic: حج‎ “pilgrimage) is one
of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a
religious duty that must be carried out at least once in the lifetime of every
able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so. The Hajj is a demonstration of the
solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to the One and True God
(“Allah” in Arabic).

The pilgrimage
occurs from the 8th to 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and last month of
the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, eleven
days shorter than the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world, the
Gregorian date of the Hajj changes from year to year. In 2012, the Hajj is
between October 24-29. Ihram is the
name given to the special spiritual state in which Muslims live while on the
pilgrimage.

The Hajj is
associated with the life of Islamic prophet Muhammad from the 7th century, but
the ritual of pilgrimage to Mecca is considered by Muslims to stretch back
thousands of years to the time of Abraham (Ibrahim). Pilgrims join processions
of hundreds of thousands of people, who simultaneously converge on Mecca for
the week of the Hajj, and perform a series of rituals.

The Hajj rituals
involve each person walking counter-clockwise seven times around the Kaaba, the
cube-shaped building which acts as the Muslim direction of prayer from all
parts of the world. The pilgrim then runs back and forth between the hills of
Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, drinks from the Zamzam Well, goes to the plains of Mount
Arafat to stand in vigil, and throws stones in a ritual. The pilgrims then
shave their heads, perform a ritual of animal sacrifice, and celebrate the
three-day global festival of Eid al-Adha
(Feast of the Sacrifice).

The pilgrimage
is the religious high point of a Muslim’s life and an event that every Muslim
dreams of undertaking. Umrah, the
lesser pilgrimage, can be undertaken at any time of the year. The Hajj,
however, is only performed during the specified five-day period once a year. In
the past, and as late as the early decades of last century, few people were
able to go to Mecca for the pilgrimage. This was because of the hardships
encountered, the length of time the journey took and the expense associated
with it. Pilgrims coming from the far corners of the Islamic world sometimes
dedicated a year or more to the journey, and many perished during it due in
part to the lack of facilities on the routes to Mecca and also in the city
itself.

Muslims today
undertake the pilgrimage easily, receive a warm welcome on their arrival in
Saudi Arabia, and are provided with the most modern facilities and efficient
services possible. Without the distractions that their forebears had to contend
with, today’s pilgrims are free to focus solely on the spiritual aspect of the
Hajj. One of the important aspects of the Hajj is the uniting force that allows
Muslims from all corners of the earth to come together and perform the rituals
required in a spirit of brotherhood and shared religious ideals. It is a
powerful social force as well as a display of religious solidarity that crosses
national and cultural barriers.

Wednesday, 24 October 2012

The United
Nations (UN), the largest international social and political organisation of
the world was established on October 24, 1945. The United Nations was the
second multipurpose international organisation established in the 20th century
that was worldwide in scope and membership. Its predecessor, the League of
Nations, was created by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and disbanded in 1946.

Headquartered in
New York City, the UN also has offices in Geneva, Vienna, and other important
cities around the world. Its official languages are Arabic, Chinese, English,
French, Russian, and Spanish. According to its Charter, the UN aims:

“To save succeeding generations from the scourge of
war, …to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, …to establish conditions
under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and
other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social
progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.”

In addition to
maintaining peace and security, its other important objectives include
developing friendly relations among countries based on respect for the
principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples; achieving
worldwide cooperation to solve international economic, social, cultural, and
humanitarian problems; respecting and promoting human rights; and serving as a
centre where countries can coordinate their actions and activities toward these
various ends.

The UN continued
the work of the League of Nations, having essentially a similar general
purpose, structure, and functions; many of the UN’s principal organs and
related agencies were adopted from similar structures established earlier in
the century. In some respects, however, the UN constituted a very different
organisation, especially with regard to its objective of maintaining
international peace and security and its commitment to economic and social
development. Changes in the nature of international relations resulted in
modifications in the responsibilities of the UN and its decision-making
processes and committees.

Cold War
tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union deeply affected the
UN’s security functions during its first 45 years. Extensive post-World War II
decolonisation in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East increased the volume and
nature of political, economic, and social issues that confronted the
organisation. The Cold War’s end in 1991 brought renewed attention and appeals
to the UN. Amid an increasingly volatile geopolitical climate, there were new
challenges to established practices and functions, especially in the areas of
conflict resolution and humanitarian assistance.

At the beginning
of the 21st century, the UN and its programs and affiliated agencies struggled
to address humanitarian crises and civil wars, unprecedented refugee flows, the
devastation caused by the spread of AIDS, global financial disruptions,
international terrorism, and the disparities in wealth between the world’s
richest and poorest peoples. The UN’s power and influence has been under much
scrutiny in the early 21st century, with many countries and groups maintaining
that the UN is a spent force. However, its varied activities and worldwide
programs with their multiplicity of benefits would be sorely missed and many
millions of people around the world would be greatly disadvantaged if it were
to cease its activities.

October 24 is
observed internationally as a day that makes known to peoples of the world the
aims and achievements of the United Nations Organisation. United Nations Day is
part of United Nations Week, which runs from 20 to 26 October.

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

“What difference
does it make how much you have? What you do not have amounts to much more.” -
Seneca

Magpie Tales has
become lured by filthy lucre this week, choosing one of the images appearing on
the USA dollar bill for this week’s mimetic inspiration. The Great Seal of the
United States can be easily viewed on the back of a one-dollar bill. The
obverse is on the right side (the eagle) of the bill, while the reverse is on
the left side (the pyramid).

The unfinished
pyramid has been interpreted as a masonic symbol. With the motto ANNUIT COEPTIS
the subject of the verb must be supplied, and the translator must also choose
the tense. In 1892 it was suggested that the missing subject was in effect the
eye at the apex of the pyramid, and thus the motto became (in the present
tense) “it (the Eye of Providence) is favourable to our undertakings”. In later publication the missing subject of
the verb ANNUIT was construed to be God, and the motto has been translated in
more recent Department publication (in the perfect tense again) as "He
(God) has favoured our undertakings”.

NOVUS ORDO
SECLORUM has been linked to Virgil, the renowned Roman poet who lived in the
first century BC. In his Eclogue IV, the pastoral poem that expresses the
longing of the world for a new era of peace and happiness, we read:

“Magnus ab
integro seclorum nascitur ordo”

Virgil’s line
has been translated in different ways, including:The great series
of ages begins anewThe ages’ mighty
march begins anewA mighty order
of ages is born anewThe majestic
roll of circling centuries begins anew.

Thomson, a Latin
expert, coined the motto: “Novus ordo seclorum” and explained its meaning: “The
date underneath [the pyramid] is that of the Declaration of Independence and
the words under it signify the beginning of the new American Era, which
commences from that date”.

Here is my
offering today, centring also on money…

The
Backing

And we have God
as the backingOf our life’s
peregrinations,Just as the gold
is locked upDeep in the
safest bank’s vault,Backing our
paper currency.

And with the
worthless paper, we buyFlesh and
spirit: Human souls sold by the pound;And our life
just like currencyIs used to buy
us our place in Paradise.

Funny how the
economy trips alongOn pictures
printed on paper,While in some
dark dungeonGold’s shimmer
is extinguished.

Isn’t it funny
how we value allBased on the
glint of a caveman’s eyeWhen he first
beheld the sparklingGold nugget in
some stream?

And even funnier
perhaps,Is weighing our
every actionOn what the savage
inventedTo protect
himself from fear of death?

Poor man,
wandering aimlessly in eternity!How could you
even imagineThat your life
is a failing economyBased on a
currency without backing…

Sunday, 21 October 2012

Pope Joan (Johanna), according to legend, was a female Pope who supposedly reigned for a few years some time during the Middle Ages. The story first appeared in 13th-century chronicles, and was subsequently popularised and embellished throughout Europe in what was probably at the time, the equivalent of our “urban legends”.

The story of Pope Joan was widely believed for centuries, though modern scholars consider it fictitious, perhaps deriving from folklore that was transformed into historical writing, perpetuated perhaps by anti-papal satires. The first mention of the female pope appears in the chronicle of Jean Pierier de Mailly, but the most popular and influential version was that interpolated into the Chronicon Pontificum et Imperatorum by Martin of Troppau, later in the 13th century.

Most versions of the Pope Joan story describe her as a talented and learned woman who disguises herself as a man, often at the behest of a lover. In the most common accounts, due to her considerable intellectual abilities, she rises through the church hierarchy, eventually being elected pope. However, while riding on horseback she gives birth, thus exposing her true sex. In most versions, she dies shortly after, either being killed by an angry mob or from natural causes. Her memory is then shunned by her successors. In some stories her baby survived and eventually became Bishop of Ostia.

There have been a few attempts at transporting Pope Joan’s life into literature and film. The Modern Greek writer Emmanuel Rhoides (1836-1904) published his novel “Pope Joan” (Papissa Ioanna) in 1866, which resulted in his excommunication from the Orthodox Church on account of the book’s scathing attack on the clergy. The novel has been translated into English by Lawrence Durrell. In 1996, Donna Woolfolk Cross published her novel “Pope Joan” on which the film of 2009 was based. There is an earlier 1972 film version of “Pope Joan” starring Liv Ullman and directed by Michael Anderson with a scenario by John Briley.

At the weekend, we watched the 2009 version of “Pope Joan” , directed by Sönke Wortmann and starring Johanna Wokalek, David Wenham and John Goodman. The film was a German, Birtish, Italian, Spanish production and despite its €22,000,000 estimated budget, it didn’t give the impression of an expensive film. The costumes of the nobles, for example, were rather tinselly and reminded one of 1970s TV historical series. The settings, the crowd scenes and the CG cities are below average in their details, but still quite effective in the context of the story. If one did look carefully, one would be well aware of watching a low-budget movie (for comparison, “The Chronicles of Narnia – The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” of 2010 had a budget of $155,000,000).

All things considered, however, the movie was quite engaging and despite its 150 minute run time, kept our interest up all the while. The plot chronicles the whole life of Johanna, from a precocious and intellectually gifted young girl in a back village of Germany to her elevation as Pope Joan in Rome. A romantic story interwoven with the more meaty parts of the script adds interest and exemplifies the battle between the flesh and the spirit that human beings are often engaged in.

The acting was generally very good, with Johanna Wokalek doing an excellent job as Joan/John and David Wenham playing a suitably heroic male lead and as Joan;s love interest. One of the pleasant surprises was John Goodman (of TV’s “Roseanne” fame) well cast as Pope Sergius, Joan’s predecessor. Some of the minor roles were also well acted, although others were only caricatures.

The film highlights the plight of ordinary women in medieval times, their lowly social position aided and abetted by the retrogressive attitude of the church and the writings of St Paul. Clever women must have abounded in those times, just as they do in any age. This film celebrates such an intellectually gifted woman, and although the story may be the stuff of legend, it is an illustration of what women are capable of and how they can excel in fields that had been traditionally reserved for men.

Having seen this movie, and knowing that Pope Joan is fiction, I would dearly love to see a big budget movie based on the life of a real life remarkable woman, St Hildegard of Bingen. Nevertheless, despite all of its shortcomings, its occasional “preachiness” and the caricaturisation, it is an interesting film to see.

“Architecture is
the learned game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light.” - Le Corbusier

The Sydney Opera
House (built 1957 - 1973) is a masterpiece of modern architecture, which has
become an Australian icon and is one of the most known and easily recognised
building s worldwide. It was created by Jørn Utzon a young Danish architect who
understood and recognised the potential provided by the site against the breath-taking
backdrop of Sydney Harbour. The result was a perfect building for the place it
was raised on.

Jørn Utzon (born
April 9, 1918, Copenhagen, Denmark—died November 29, 2008, Copenhagen) was
assured of lasting fame through this particular building. In its short lifetime, Sydney Opera House has
earned a reputation as a world-class performing arts centre and become a symbol
of both Sydney and the Australian nation. World Heritage Listed Sydney Opera
House was inscribed in the World Heritage List in June 2007 By UNESCO: “Sydney Opera House is a great architectural
work of the 20th century. It represents multiple strands of creativity, both in
architectural form and structural design, a great urban sculpture carefully set
in a remarkable waterscape and a world famous iconic building.”

The unique roof
comprises sets of interlocking vaulted concrete ‘shells’ set upon a vast
terraced platform and surrounded by terraced areas that function as pedestrian
concourses. The two main halls are arranged side by side, with their long axes,
slightly inclined from each other, generally running north-south. The auditoria
face south, away from the harbour with the stages located between the audience
and the city. The Forecourt is a vast open space from which people ascend the
stairs to the podium. The Monumental Steps, which lead up from the Forecourt to
the two main performance venues, are a great ceremonial stairway nearly 100
metres wide.

The vaulted roof
shells were designed by Utzon in collaboration with internationally renowned
engineers Ove Arup & Partners with the final shape of the shells derived
from the surface of a single imagined sphere. Each shell is composed of
pre-cast rib segments radiating from a concrete pedestal and rising to a ridge
beam. The shells are faced in glazed off-white tiles while the podium is clad
in earth-toned, reconstituted granite panels. The glass walls are a special
feature of the building, constructed according to the modified design by
Utzon’s successor architect, Peter Hall.

The history
surrounding the design and construction of the building became as controversial
as its design. In 1956 the NSW Government called an open-ended international
design competition and appointed an independent jury. The competition brief
provided broad specifications to attract the best design talent in the world;
it did not specify design parameters or set a cost limit. The main requirement
of the competition brief was a design for two performance halls, one for opera
and one for symphony concerts. Reputedly rescued from a pile of discarded
submissions, Jørn Utzon’s winning entry created great community interest and
the NSW Government’s decision to commission Utzon as the sole architect was unexpected,
bold and visionary.

Design and
construction were closely intertwined. Utzon’s radical approach to the
construction of the building fostered an exceptional collaborative and
innovative environment. The design solution and construction of the shell
structure took eight years to complete and the development of the special
ceramic tiles for the shells took over three years. The project was not helped
by the changes to the brief. Construction of the shells was one of the most
difficult engineering tasks ever to be attempted. The revolutionnary concept
demanded equally revolutionary engineering and building techniques.
Baulderstone Hornibrook (then Hornibrook Group) constructed the roof shells and
the interior structure and fit-out.

At the behest of
the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) the NSW Government changed the
proposed larger opera hall into the concert hall because at the time, symphony
concerts, managed by the ABC, were more popular and drew larger audiences than
opera. Cost overruns
contributed to the public criticism and a change of government caused in 1966 Utzon
to resign, street demonstrations and professional controversy. Peter Hall
supported by Lionel Todd and David Littlemore in conjunction with the then NSW
Government Architect, Ted Farmer completed the glass walls and interiors
including adding three previously unplanned venues underneath the Concert Hall
on the western side.

Opened by Queen
Elizabeth II on October 20, in 1973, new works were undertaken between 1986 and 1988 to the
land approach and Forecourt under the supervision of the then NSW Government
Architect, Andrew Andersons, with contributions by Peter Hall. For the futureIn
1999, Jørn Utzon was re-engaged as Sydney Opera House architect to develop a
set of design principles to act as a guide for all future changes to the
building. These principles reflect his original vision and help to ensure that
the building’s architectural integrity is maintained.

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WELCOME

Welcome to Nicholas V's Blog on Blogger

I have been blogging daily on this platform for several years now. It is surprising that I have persisted as the world is changing and "microblogging" is now the norm. I blog to amuse myself, make comment on current affairs, externalise some of my creativity, keep notes on things that interest me, learn something new and to surprise myself with things that I discover about this wonderful, and sometimes crazy, world we live in.

I sometimes get the impression that I am on a soapbox delivering a monologue, so your comments are welcome.